ASUS EAH5870/2DIS/1GD5/V2 Specifications

If we just talk about the HD 5870 GPU, and the architecture that supports it, then this section is the most important part of this review. But as I mentioned in the introduction, this review is more about the design changes that the AIB partners have implemented in their updated cards; what people are calling "Second Generation". The reference cards that ATI initially released were meant to show off the full range of technology on offer, and the top cards like the HD 5870 got all the bells and whistles. The new designs focus more on providing the best performance per dollar. One thing that hasn't changed is the actual GPU. There have been no major process tweaks or redesigns since its introduction, and its specs remain unaltered.

GPU Specifications

Fabrication Process: TSMC 40nm Bulk CMOS

Die Size: 334mm2

Engine clock speed: 850 MHz

Processing power (single precision): 2.72 TeraFLOPS

Processing power (double precision): 544 GigaFLOPS

Polygon throughput: 850M polygons/sec

Data fetch rate (32-bit): 272 billion fetches/sec

Texel fill rate (bilinear filtered): 68 Gigatexels/sec

Pixel fill rate: 27.2 Gigapixels/sec

Anti-aliased pixel fill rate: 108.8 Gigasamples/sec

Memory clock speed: 1200 MHz

Memory data rate: 4.8 Gbps

Memory bandwidth: 154 GB/sec

Maximum board power: 188 Watts

Idle board power: 27 Watts

I/O Specifications

Native Display Port

Native HDMI

Native Dual-link DVI-I

Single-link DVI (via HDMI to DVI Adapter)

D-Sub (via DVI to D-Sub Adaptor)

Specifications are very important for graphics cards, because they tell a vital part of the story. However, testing is still the only way to see how any card actually performs, relative to other options that are available now and some older products that users may want to upgrade from. Pricing is also a factor, but there are so many variables that affect the marketplace, and of course, it's not static by any means. That's one of the reasons we're doing this review now, in the wake of the Fermi releases, just to validate where the HD 5870 fits in the marketplace, eight months after it first hit the scene.

The ASUS EAH5870 V2 comes out of the box with standard clock rates: 850 MHz for the GPU core and 1200 MHz for the memory. The one thing that is NOT standard is the default voltage for the GPU, which was reported as 1.2125 VDC. This is a modest 5.4% upgrade from the standard voltage of 1.15 VDC, but it does pay some dividends, as we'll see later in our testing.

Since this card is the second version of the EAH5870 to bear the Voltage Tweak moniker, there is a lot more voltage available, using the supplied SmartDoctor software. This is the low-end version of monitoring and control software currently available from ASUS; their high end MATRIX cards get the ASUS iTracker2 software, which we last looked at in this article. iTracker2 is a top notch product, with many features not found elsewhere, like memory voltage control and full access to adjust memory timings. I wish it was available across the full product line, but it does help justify the premium pricing on the MATRIX line. SmartDoctor just does the basics, but it makes for a reliable overclock and performance upgrade.

This is our third chance to examine a 2nd generation card based on the ATI Radeon HD 5870, so let's take a closer look at the ASUS EAH5870/2DIS/1GD5/V2 Radeon HD 5870, and see how their interpretation of the 5870 design stands out from the crowd.

Comments

Excellent review, one of the best I have ever red on a graphics card. Perfectly examined power section, built quality, overclockability. Do you think will I be able to run this card overclocked in my system? I think it would be ok, but maybe wee bit close to maximum for my powersuply. I run QX9650 at 3.5 GHZ (10.5 x 333 on Gigabyte mATX G31 ESL2 board, 2x2GB DDR2 corsair DHX, and the most important - PSU Enermax MODU82+ II 525W with 3x12V 25 amps on each but 40 amps maximum combined. Thank you for your opinion. And once more what a GREAT REVIEW!!!

Thanks for the positives...it's always appreciated. Your Enermax is an excellent PSU, and it should do the job. My only concern is if you are doing Folding or Benchmarks all the time. Even then, the total PSU load will probably stay under 400W.

BTW, I was reading that one of the 12V rails is dedicated to a single PCI-E connector, while the other two are sharing the current between PCI-e and the MOLEX and SATA connectors, so verify that and use the dedicated connection if you can.

Thank you very much for quick reply and advice. Much appreciate it. Just to clarify things, here is a picture of 12V rails layout - ##anandtech.com/show/2487/6 - so considering that I have two graphics sockets connectors on the PSU and two cables to connect them to of which one of the cable has only one 6+2 pin connector and the other cable has 2x 6+2 pin connectors I should plug the 6+2 pin connector to outer one dedicated graphics power socket on the PSU and the second cable with 2x 6+2 pin connectors to the inner graphics power socket and then spread that output by using and included adapter to convert those 2x 6+2 pin cable to 1x8 pin cable to spread the load properly, right? But I wont be probably spreading the output on all three rails anyway because one 12V rail according to the pictures in the link is probably dedicated to CPU only. Am I correct? Thank you for your seamless advice and help.

When I looked at that picture with power distribution on 12V rails again ( ##anandtech.com/show/2487/6 ) I think all what is needed is actually connect that 2x 6+2 pin cable to inner graphics power sockets on the PSU because I think its obvious that that one combines both 12V2 and 12V3 rails and then just plug that 2x 6+2 pin cable to the graphics card. What do you think?

Your right, each red connector on the PSU has both rails contained in it. 12V2 is dedicated to the grphics cards only. It's the one with the yellow sleeve on the internal wiring, and when you plug the connector in, on the outside of the unit, it will be the set of wires closest to the edge. I would use that for the 8-pin connection, and the other set (12V3) for the 6-pin.

I think only the inner red connector has both 12V2 and 12V3 rails and to that one I will plug that cable which splits into two 6+2 pin PIC-e cables. Enermax did a good job marking the wires on that cable so its obvious which one of two 6+2 pin connectors will use the 12V2 and which 12V3 and as you said I will use the 6+2 pin on 12V2 to power the 8pin on the card and the another 6+2 pin will use 12V3 and I will plug it to 6pin on the card. BTW: I am going to use this card in this mATX case - ##tomshardware.com/reviews/4-barebone-cases-compared,1901-5.html - its so smartly designed that it can take even such a long card even with connector placed where they are on that card. Sorry for any confusions and thank you very much for your time and effort as well as for prompt replies and advices. Thanks to the discussion with you I understand it now and have the correct idea how to plug that card into my PSU in the best way possible. Wish you all the best in whatever you do! :-]

I actually own one of these, and it is rock solid. Even theough it is not modular, it has the exact cables you need for this graphics card, one 6-pin and one 6+2 pin. Check out the review on jonnyguru.

You said maximum power draw of this card is 265 (395-130) watts when running full out. What do you mean with 395 watts? Total System Power Consumption?

Maybe the power supply will work too forced? Or Maybe will work too forced if I overclock my CPU and Graphic Card?

Perhaps it will reduce the life of the power supply? I've been told when used heavily or over an extended period of time (1+ years) a power supply will slowly lose some of its initial wattage capacity.

The entire system used a total 395 watts of power from the wall receptacle while running FurMark. This is an extreme load for the video card, and you would not see that kind of sustained load while gaming.

What are you running on the PC during the 24/7? Is it just idling most of the time, or are you running applications that put a significant load on the PC?

At 80% load, your PSU will probably only last 10 years.....just a guess.

Well, if I was on an upgrade path like what you describe, I would probably start looking for a good deal on a Corsair HX 850. In the mean time, why don't you buy one of the KILL A WATT power meters, and try stressing your system with Furmark and OCCT? They are only about $25... Then you will KNOW what your VX550 is up against. OCCT will print graphs of all the major system voltages (12V, 5V, 3.3V...) and you will see for yourself if it is holding up at the highest possible loads for YOUR system, not someone else's.

You can recoup some of your costs by selling the VX550, as it has a very good reputation.

BTW, for anyone who absolutely cannot power this, or any other powerful card (Fermi, Cough Cough!).... Thermaltake makes a neat PCI-e only (12V DC) power supply that fits in two 5.25" bays and provides 650 watts just to the graphics card(s): ****thermaltakeusa.com/Product.aspx?C=1265&ID=1544 It has modular connections, so cable management is good, too. Folks mainly use it for building dedicated folding machines, where they run quad-SLI.